In 1853, when the United States was about 70 years old and the state of Texas about 7, the Texas Medical Association was founded by 35 physicians. This proved to be premature; because of the great distances, the danger of attack by Indians, and the difficulty of travel in those days, the association lapsed into inactivity for 16 years. Since then its membership has grown to nearly 6,000. The story of this growth is linked in this book with the growth and development of the state. In the early days of the association, quackery was rife, and a long and vigorous fight against chiropractic and other forms of irregular treatment was waged. More recently just as valiant a fight has been made against socialized medicine. The author has gathered most of his information from the pages of the Texas State Journal of Medicine and the earlier proceedings and transactions of